Progress on Welsh active travel network 'painfully slow'

An influential Senedd committee has called for reforms to active travel delivery in Wales, warning that progress has been ‘painfully slow and the target of 45% of journeys by sustainable modes by 2040 may be out of reach.

The Senedd's Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee (PAPAC) released a report stating that the 2040 target ‘will not be achieved' without a co-ordinated, regional approach and called on the Welsh Government to commit to ‘long-term funding, stronger leadership, and a renewed focus on behaviour change and inclusivity'.

Many local authorities do not have the necessary capacity and expertise to ‘deliver active travel effectively'. To remedy this, it recommended a regional approach led by the Corporate Joint Committees and Transport for Wales (TfW) instead of multiple individual local authority plans.

The strategy ‘should be led by the Welsh Government, designed in partnership with stakeholders and delivery partners, particularly local communities, to maximise its impact'.

As well as recommending structural changes to delivery planning, the report also suggested that the 2040 goal will not be reached without a ‘meaningful national behaviour change programme' that convinces people to use active travel for everyday trips.

Chair of the PAPAC, Mark Isherwood MS, said: ‘Active travel is essential for a healthier, more energy efficient Wales, but progress has been painfully slow. The Welsh Government must lead from the front and support local authorities by introducing a regional delivery model, with Transport for Wales playing a central role in providing expertise and coordination. This approach will improve efficiency and ensure consistent standards across Wales.

‘We also need an impactful national behaviour change programme to encourage people to leave the car at home, and we must involve local voices at every stage of planning. Active travel must work for everyone, improving health, cutting emissions and making our communities better places to live.

‘We note this year's Annual Report by the Active Travel Board, published earlier this week, which set out a range of modest gains in active travel in Wales. We welcome these gains but as both our report found and as reflected in the Active Travel Board's report, the challenges ahead are significant, and we have both made recommendations on how these challenges can be met.'

The full report can be found here.